2. Jesus Spoke in Parables He is the Master Teacher, John 7:46. Parable: From Parabole: “It signifies a placing of one thing beside another with a view to comparison,” Vine. Little girl: “A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”

3. Why Jesus Spoke in Parables: To Fulfill Prophecy, Matthew 13:34,35 Sometimes to withhold from certain ones a knowledge of truths they were unworthy to receive, Matt. 13:10-13. To make clear the truths of Jesus, Matthew 13:52. To teach truths one might otherwise miss. To teach truths in a manner people would remember.

4. The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30 V. 14. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. V. 15. “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his several ability, and straightway took his journey.

5. V. 16. “Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. V. 17. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. V. 18. “But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. V. 19. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

6. V. 20. “And he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five talents more. V. 21. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

7. V. 22. “He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents besides them. V. 23. “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many thing: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

8. V. 24. “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: V. 25. “And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. V. 26. “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

9. V. 27. “Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. V. 28. “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. V. 29. “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

10. The Parable Concluded: V. 30. “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Note: This parable follows the parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13, a parable which stressed the need to be prepared.

11. The Parable Analyzed: “The Kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country,” v. 14. The “man” in this verse is Jesus The “far country” is heaven. Jesus went to heaven; he will return, and each one will then give account to Him, Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 25:31-33.

12. The Parable Analyzed (con’t He “called His Own Servants,” v. 14. Each Christian is the Lord’s servant! The Talents Distributed, 25:14,15. A “talent” was a monetary measure, about 6,000 denari. We speak of “talents” to refer to a person’s abilities; in this case “talents” referred to a sum of money – money distributed based on “ability.”

13. Reckoning Day Came, v. 19! The Five and Two Talent men: Doubled their money, Matt. 25:16,17. Were Excited, “behold, I have gained.. Were Praised; “well done, thou good and faithful servant,” Matt. 25:21,23. Were Rewarded: “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,” Matthew 25:21,23.

14. Reckoning Day Came! The One Talent Man: “Hid his lord’s money,” Matt. 25:18. Discredited his master, Matt. 25:24. Made Excuses, Matthew 25:25. Was called “Wicked and slothful,” Matthew 25:26 “Wicked” –not because of immorality, but because of being too afraid and too lazy to properly use the talent he had received!

15. Observation: Jesus was not a Socialist Socialism: a system which discourages ambition and promotes laziness. A socialist would have given an equal number of talents. Winston Churchill: “The inherent vice of Capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessing; the inherent blessing of Socialism is the equal sharing of misery.”

16. Lessons to be Learned: Reckoning Day Is Coming! Our Talents (abilities) may differ both in number and nature. “Our” Talents really belong to the Lord! Matthew 25:14. Talents used result in talents increased, Matthew 25:16,17!

17. Lessons to be Learned Talents unused result in talent decreased, Matthew 25:18,28. True both physically and intellectually. Grace unemployed will eventually be taken away! Fear is no just cause for us not to use “our talents” in our Master’s service!

18. Lessons to be Learned Laziness amounts to Wickedness, Matthew 25:26! “Unprofitable” servants will be cast into “outer darkness,” Matt. 25:30! The two profitable servants told to “enter into the joy of the Lord,” v. 21,23. The unprofitable servant cast into a place where there “shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” Matt. 25:30.

19. Conclusion: Has the Lord blessed you with the ability to talk? Has the Lord blessed you with the ability to sing praises? Has the Lord blessed you with the ability to teach? Has the Lord blessed you with money? Has the Lord blessed you with time? Has the Lord blessed you with undeveloped talent? God wants our faithful service; He does not want our excuses!